Pilot hospitalized with life threatening injuries after crashing ultralight aircraft in Martin County

A pilot of an ultralight aircraft is hospitalized with life threatening injuries from crashing in a pasture near Indiantown about 11 a.m. Sunday, according to Martin County Fire Rescue.

MARTIN COUNTY — The pilot of an ultralight aircraft that crashed at Indiantown's Underhill Farms on Sunday was hospitalized in life-threatening condition, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Christine Christofek said the pilot, whose name was not released Sunday, is a 35-year-old Martin County man.

The private Underhill Farms owned the aircraft and Christofek said the motor-driver aircraft came down where it took off from: the farm's privately owned pasture in the 27600 block of Martin Highway.

All Christofek could say about the owner of the land and aircraft is that "he is cooperating."

The crash occurred about 11 a.m. during mild weather.

The pilot was flown to the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute and the Martin County Sheriff's Office will investigate because the Federal Aviation Administration doesn't look into ultralight accidents, Christofek said.

Eric Ingraham, a Jensen Beach resident and past president of the Stuart Experimental Aircraft Association, said until the pilot is interviewed, "We can't say for sure what happened."

However sheriff's officials released crash photos that Ingraham reviewed Sunday afternoon. From what he can see, he said, the aircraft didn't suddenly crash nose first into the ground. The frame appears to have sustained little damage.

Rather, it appears a wheel may have hit something in the grass, causing the propeller-driven vehicle to abruptly tip forward, stopping so suddenly the pilot, who sits in an open seat with a seat belt, was seriously injured.

The photos show a tire separated from the frame.

"It appears that it (the ultralight) was sliding forward and nosed over," Ingraham said.

The pilot could have been making an emergency landing, but the crash initially appears to be accidental, he said. Even if the engines failed, "This aircraft could glide to the ground, absolutely."

Normally an ultralight's top speed is about 63 mph and can be slowed for landing, Ingraham said. Ultralights typically have a five-gallon fuel tank, giving them a two-hour flying range.

"Usually these aren't things you fly from one destination to another. You go out and fly around," said Ingraham, who used to own an ultralight.

So far, Ingraham said he hasn't found anyone in the association who knows the pilot who was injured. His name is being withheld pending notification of relations.

Ingraham identifies the vehicle as being a Lazair, manufactured from 1979 to 1985. About 2,000 were manufactured. "They had a good safety rating, for what they are.

"There is nothing inherently dangerous about flying" the vehicles that weight less than 254 pounds, he added.

The Stuart Experimental Aircraft Association represents owners of uncertified aircraft: those not used for commercial purposes. That includes everything from regular aircraft to owner-built aircraft and ultralights.